The Microsoft Excel File Format - OpenOffice.org

3 Formulas
3.3.3 Cell Addresses in BIFF2-BIFF5
In the file format versions up to BIFF5, it is possible to use 16384 (2 14 ) rows. A cell address contains the row index as a
14-bit value, the column index as an 8-bit value, and two flags. The flags, encoded into the row index, specify whether
the row or column index is absolute or relative. The differences in interpreting relative indexes are described in 3.3.1.
Index to row or row offset, with embedded relative flags (16-bit value), BIFF2-BIFF5:
Bit Mask Contents
13-0 3FFF H Index to row (0…16383) or row offset (method [B], -8192…8191)
14 4000 H 0 = Absolute column index 1 = Relative column index, or column offset
15 8000 H 0 = Absolute row index 1 = Relative row index, or row offset
Cell address, BIFF2-BIFF5:
Offset Size Contents
0 2 Index to row or row offset, with relative flags (see table above)
2 1 Index to column (0…255) or column offset (method [B], -128…127)
Cell range address, BIFF2-BIFF5:
Offset Size Contents
0 2 Index to first row or offset of first row, with relative flags (see table above)
2 2 Index to last row or relative offset of last row, with relative flags (see table above)
4 1 Index to first column (0…255) or offset of first column (method [B], -128…127)
5 1 Index to last column (0…255) or offset of last column (method [B], -128…127)
Example for a reference in a cell formula (method [A], token tRef): The reference B$6 consists of the absolute
row index 5 and the relative column index 1. The value of the encoded row index is 4005 H (row 6, column is
relative). The value of the column index is 01 H (column B). Though the column is relative, the fixed index to
column B is stored in cell formulas.
Example for a relative reference in a shared formula (method [B], token tRefN): The reference “decrease column
by 1, absolute row 6” (which would evaluate to the address B6, if used in cell C1) consists of the absolute row
index 5, and (in shared formulas) the relative column offset –1. The value of the encoded row index is 4005 H
(row 6, column is relative). The value of the column index is FF H (the signed offset –1).
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